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12/11/10

First Image of "Super 8" Monster or Sign of an Impending Zombie Invasion?

Super 8 marketing image or unrelated hoax?

So here's the story. The picture posted to the right appeared on a hunting website a few days ago, an anonymous source posted the image which he claims a trap cam shot after his camp was inexplicably ransacked. So this image first appeared on the internet as though it were real. Creeptacular, no?

However, now the image is being linked to the upcoming monster/alien/frustratingly hard to see creature that probably won't get a backstory movie coming out this May, which leads some to believe that J.J. Abrams' and Steven Spielberg's film, "Super 8" may be kicking it's viral marketing campaign into high gear.

Then again, this image of a ghoul-like monster may just be a great Photoshop fake that's riding a wave of accidental publicity. Then again, this could be a trick by producers meant to throw us off the scent of what the real plot of the film will be. (Jurassic Park reboot? Whatever is in the wrecked train from the trailer is big enough to tear through metal like it's foil...I'm just sayin'...) Either way, this is a fun bit of news. But wait...there's more...

Host of DT, Josh Gates holds up
the impression of a Yeti print.

The interest in the phenomenon known as cryptids seems to be growing in recent years thanks to shows like, "Destination Truth" and "Monster Hunters" that attempt to track down unexplained animals, like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. And there's no shortage of fun/unintentionally hilarious websites out there that claim to post real photos of monsters captured on hunting trips and fishing trips and hiking trips. Kind of makes you want to think twice about getting out and enjoying the great outdoors, doesn't it?

I'm getting really excited about "Super 8", but as is always the case with an Abrams movie, I'm also nervous. I loved what Abrams did with Star Trek, but I found Cloverfield to be exceedingly frustrating. Not just the shaky camera work, but the tease of such a great concept never becoming the focal point of the story. There's just about nothing I love more than a good monster movie, and it was so frustrating to see a monster stalking around in the background and never get to spend any time with it or on it. I know the point of the film was to give you the feeling that you were living through a monster attack, and I get that and it accomplished that goal. I just didn't prefer it. So my hope is that whatever the monster is from Super 8, that we'll get to see it and enjoy it.

If there's anything Abrams is good with, it's a cool concept. (LOST) But I'd love to see him follow through with a concept instead of keeping it as a background thing or saying that it's not really central to the plot or letting it spin out of control by keeping it anonymous and up to interpretation.

However, Spielberg is the master of the modern monster film. Poltergeist, Jurassic Park, and even Close Encounters of the Third Kind are all monster movies in different genres. Now, that's how you follow through on a great concept. So here's hoping that when the two of them put their heads together, we'll get something truly innovative and dazzling. I just watched Raiders of the Lost Ark again this week, and it never ceases to amaze me how fun the ending is, you know, with the exploding heads and melting faces and what-not. Spielberg and Lucas are the fathers of making the adventure genre fun for my generation.

The best part about all this is that it's been a long time since I've been this giddy about a movie, and I not so secretly hope that the photo is part of a marketing campaign. Although, if it is, it may raise some ethical questions about viral marketing. If we thought that the panic after the War of the Worlds radio broadcast was history-making, just imagine the kinds of panic that could be inspired using the internet...filmmakers be warned.

Pardon the bad language in this clip, but all this makes me think of the movie Amazon Women on the Moon and their version of, "Unsolved Mysteries".

Stealing is Wrong

All of the text and many of the photos here are exclusive property of Audrey Brown, (c) 2008-2018. Link without needing my permission, reference your little heart out (as long as I'm cited). Just don't steal.